Last week Apple released the second generation of its popular item trackers. The price remains the same at $29/£29 for one or $99/£99 for a pack of four. They retain the same iconic design, share the same dimensions as the first generation and are compatible with all existing AirTag accessories. A great start! ✨
The real leap with the new model starts with connectivity. AirTag (2nd generation) is powered by Apple’s U2, a second generation Ultra Wideband chip. This is the technology behind Precision Finding, letting you lock onto an AirTag’s location with pinpoint accuracy, down to around a centimetre. It’s the same chip used in the iPhone 15 lineup and newer, plus Apple Watch Ultra 2 and Apple Watch Series 9 onwards. The result is a 50% increase in Precision Finding range, and for the first time, support for tracking an AirTag using Apple Watch as well.
In my testing, Apple’s claims held up. I could trigger Precision Finding from much farther away, even from a different floor in my house. By comparison, with the first generation AirTag I often need to be in the same room before it kicks in. I suspect part of this improvement comes from increased Bluetooth range as well. The original AirTag uses Bluetooth Low Energy 5.0, but Apple hasn’t disclosed the Bluetooth standard used in the second generation. My hunch is 5.3 or 5.4, both of which allow for higher output power and improved receiver sensitivity. That would explain both my results and Apple’s stated improvements.
Another key improvement is the built in speaker. Apple claims it’s up to 50% louder than the first generation AirTag, and in my experience that holds up. What stood out immediately is the higher pitched tone when you ping it. That pitch cuts through ambient noise more effectively, but it also genuinely sounds louder and more assertive overall. On top of that, Apple has clearly tuned the alert sounds to be harder to ignore. That helps with anti stalking measures and makes tracking down a hidden AirTag far easier in real world use.
As mentioned, the design remains largely unchanged. You still get the glossy hard plastic shell, reminiscent of an iPod or the MacBooks of old, paired with a polished stainless steel rear cap bearing the Apple logo. That cap twists off to reveal the coin cell battery compartment, making replacements quick and painless. It’s IP67 dust and water resistant, just like the first generation. Around the back, you’ll find the familiar laser-engraved Apple logo and AirTag text, along with a handful of technical markings. These are now capitalised, which is the only notable visual change between generations.
Apple hasn’t cited any changes to battery life, continuing to estimate around a year per battery. In my experience with the first-generation AirTag, that estimate held true. It’s obviously too early to verify the same over a full year with the second generation, but given how well the original held up, it’s reasonable to expect similar longevity here.
Overall, this feels like a very solid upgrade and a fitting note to end on. Apple has kept the same price, the same familiar design, and core technologies like NFC for easy pairing, while meaningfully improving what actually matters: finding an AirTag from much farther away, and doing so more easily. It’s a quiet update, but a smart one. The second-generation AirTag does exactly what it needs to, and as a result, feels like even better value than the original. And yes, I still love that Apple lets you personalise them with laser engraved letters and emoji on the front.
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